40 Interesting & Unknown Papaya Facts
The papaya is a mildly sweet, soft, greenish/yellow healthy tropical fruit and it is one of the most favorites fruit all the time due to it’s nutritional, digestive, and medicinal properties. Continue reading these 40 Interesting Papaya Facts to find out more about papaya.
1. The papaya belongs to the Carica Papaya tree.
2. The papaya is a tropical fruit tree and it is also famous as the names Papaw and Pawpaw.
3. The papaya originated in the tropical regions of the Americas.
4. There was a time when papaya was considered as an exotic fruit because it was found in Mexico and Central America.
5. The papaya fruit is actually a large berry.
6. The papaya tree grows anywhere between 5 meters and 10 meters.
7. It is a fast growing tree and can bear fruits within 6 months to 12 months.
8. The lower trunk is full of scars.
9. Papaya’s female flowers have a superior ovary loosely connected at the base. 
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10. Papayas are flowering plants. They produce white flowers that have five petals each.
11. There are usually two variants of the papaya (Hawaiian papaya and Mexican papaya) that are cultivated and sold throughout the world.
12. The Hawaiian papaya is smaller and has a pear shape.
13. The papaya tree doesn’t have branches.
14. The leaves of the papaya tree grow on petioles that are nearly horizontal.
15. Every part of the papaya tree has latex.
16. There is an enzyme called papin in unripe green papaya fruit and even the papaya leaves.
17. The black seeds of the papaya have a sharp and spicy taste.
18. After being introduced to the islands via the Manila galleons, Papayas became a part of Filipino cuisine.
19. The fruit sometimes used to be referred to as a “tree melon.”
20. The papaya was introduced to Hawaii in the early 1800s.
21. Tea made from papaya leaves is consumed in some countries as protection against malaria.
22. The Papaya Fruit Fly is a threat to the fruit.
23. The seeds of the papaya can be ground up and used as a substitute for black pepper.
24. Papaya leaves are steamed and eaten in parts of Asia.
25. The bark of the papaya tree is often used to make rope.
26. Small papaya contains about 300% of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C.
27. Papain is also used in the preparation of dietary supplements and chewing gums.
28. Women in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and various other parts of the world have used papaya as a folk remedy for contraception and abortion.
29. Papaya releases a latex fluid when not ripe, possibly causing irritation and an allergic reaction in some people.
30. Consumption of very large amounts of papaya may cause carotenemia, harmless yellowing of soles and palms.
31. The largest fruit display weighs 18,805.84 kilograms (41,459.78 lbs) and was achieved by Confederacao de Agricultura e Pecuaria on 28 July 2016.
32. The major commercial producers of papayas are India, Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Mexico.
33. Papaya is the only fruit that contains papain, an enzyme that has the ability to digest protein.
34. September is National Papaya Month.
35. The white powder sold as “Meat Tenderizer” is self-possessed mainly of an enzyme – papain.
36. The leaves of papaya can be used for fresh salads or they can be boiled and prepared like spinach.
37. Harrison Ford was treated with injections of papaya due to the injury of the spine.
38. Sometimes, papaya is used in the treatment of Dengue fever.
39. In Thai cuisine, papaya is used to make Thai salads such as som tam.
